Improvement in carriage-tops



E. MARS H'.

CARRIAGE-TOP. .No.1'75,363. Patented Marc1'28,1876.

Harnesses; `mvsnmph N. FERS. FHOTO- L11 HOGRAFHER. WASHINGTON, D. CA

UNITED STATES Plrrrnx'r OFFICE EZRA MARSH, OF NEVl/TARK, NEW JERSEY.

vIIVIIROVEMENT IN CARRIAGE-TOPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 175,363, dated March 28, 1876; application filed December 4, 1875.

To all lwhom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EZRA MARSH, of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Oarriages, of which the following is a specication:

Figure l is' a side View, partly in section, of a part of a carriage to which my improve ment has been applied. Fig. 2 is a detail end view of the shield, shown as folded against the dash. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken through the line x w, Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a detail section of the same taken through the line a," w', Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a detailsection taken through the line y y, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail edge view of a lower cornervof the shield, showing the swiveled eye.

Similar letters of reference indica-te corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to furnish carriages so constructed that they may be easily and quickly adjusted as open or closed carriages, without materially increasing the cost of manufacture. f

The invention consists in the combination of the swiveled eyes and the bent rods with the dash, the carriagebody, and the shield, and in the combination of the bent frame and its rug, with the floor of the carriagebody, as hereinafter iully desciibed.

A represents the body of a carriage, the forward part of the floor c of which may inoline upward slightly in the usual avay. B is the dash, to the upper corners of which a-re attached the ends of the short arms of the U-rods O. The long arms of the U-rods C extend down in the rear of, and parallel with, the ends of the dash B, and their lower ends are secured to the t'raine of the carriagebody A.

D is the shield, which is made in two parts, plates, or frames, hinged to each other at their adjacent edges. To the lower corners ofthe lower part of the shield D are swiveled eyes E, through which the U-rods C pass.

The upper edge of the upper part ot' theshield D is secured to the forward edge ot' the top, hood or roof of a carriage, and is secured detachably beneath said edge by buttons or other convenient fastenings. In the parts of the shield D, or in frames d set into said parts are placed glass-plates d2 to enable the driver, and others riding iu the carriage to see out in front.

In the lower partof the shield D, just below the frame d1 is formed a hole, d3, for the passage of the reins. The frame d1, above the rein-hole d3, is hinged at its upper edge, so that it may be turned up inward and secured by a spring-catch or other convenient fastening, when desired to give more space for the reins should it lie-necessary in controlling the horse. When in use the lower edge of the lower part of the shield D overlaps the upper edge of the dash B, and the swiveled eyes E rest upon the short arm of the U-rods U. When not required for use the upper part of the shield is folded down upon the lower part, and the folded shield is raised, moved inward, and lowered along the mner side of the dash B, the swiveled eyes E passing over the bends ofthe U-rods C, and sliding down the long arms of said rods C. The folded shield D is secured in place against the dash B, by the ordinary flap that covers and protects the ordinary apron. This iap is not shown in the drawing. In the end edges of the shield I) is formed a groove, d",

to receive a thin metal bar, E, secured to the edge of `the curtain G, and locked in said groove by buttons, thumb-screws, or other convenient fast-enin gs.

The side edges of the curtain G are secured by knobs in the usual way. H is a light fra-nie litted and secured to the floor a ot' the carriage-body A. The forward part of the frame H is bent over into U form, as shown in Fig. l, and to said frame is attached a fur, wool, or other rug, I, the turned-over part of which serves as a pocket to receive the forward part of the feet and keep them warm.

The part of the skin exposed to 'View by the turning over of its forward part should be covered or lined with cloth. The forward or bent part of the fraine H is placed just in the rear of the ordinary toe-bar J, and is made light and elastic, so that it may be pressed down by the feet when using the toe-bar J, and may recover its former position as soon as the pressure ot' the feet may be removed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pet to make a. different angle with dash,a.ocordng entto the relative position of dash and top, as

1. The frame H, arranged on oor a and and for the purpose speetied. curved in front, as and for the purpose set EZRA MARSH. forth. Witnesses 2. The shield D, connected with rods C by, JAMES T. GRAHAM, swiveled eyes E, toenabe the glass section? T. B. MOSHER. 

